Module 3, Page 5 – Government Impersonation Scam Awareness. What to do if someone pretends to be IRS or Police?

Page 5 of 8

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Video Transcript

Golden Rules.

1 – Real government agencies never demand payment by phone, email, or gift cards.

2 – No one from the IRS, Social Security, or the Police will threaten arrest over the phone.

3 – Gift cards and crypto are never used by the government.

4 – Hang up and call the real agency using a number you trust.

5 – When in doubt, talk to someone you trust before acting.

The national picture. These scams are part of a much bigger story. In 2025, Americans 60 and older reported losing $7.748 billion to online fraud across 201,266 victims. Read Stolen Trust, our 2026 special study that maps the full elder-fraud landscape, with five years of FBI data and one practical plan to fix it.